If Canmore commuters were seeing red over road construction projects currently underway, just wait – it is going to get worse before it gets better.
With two major projects still ongoing on Sixth Street and at the Bow River Bridge, several more are expected to begin this week.
To make matters worse, by the second week of October, CP Rail will undergo replacing its entire railway crossing structure adjacent to A&W, meaning it will be shut down completely for up to four days.
Municipal engineer Bill Luka said the Town appreciates the public’s patience with the scheduling of projects in the less busy shoulder season.
Feedback from businesses and residents in the past, he said, has shown it is preferred to have roadwork outside high traffic and high visitor summer months.
“We are trying our best to minimize disruptions and impacts and we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding while we go through these projects,” Luka said. “The reason we are doing so many projects at this time is we are really trying to avoid disruptions during the summer.”
Work began this week at Benchlands Trail and Railway Avenue for stormwater and drainage improvements.
On top of that, work on Policeman’s Creek bridges both on Main Street and 10th Street began on Tuesday (Sept. 27). Luka said the work is rehabilitative to resurface both bridges and 10th Street could be closed for up to a week depending on weather.
The projects are not all municipal. The Bow River Bridge is an Alberta Transportation project, the railway crossing is CP Rail’s and a development project is underway to connect services on Old Canmore Road.
CP Rail is prepared to mobilize on its crossing replacement to lengthen the ties. Until they begin the work, expected around Oct. 12, motorists will find the crossing structure more bumpy than usual said Luka.
Luka said Sixth Avenue work is continuing on schedule between Main Street and Seventh Street and is expected to be complete by early October.
The intersection at Canmore Collegiate High School is almost complete; work is halted until power to the crossing structure can be hooked up by Fortis.
